Among the “Cool Globes” unveiled outside the Field Museum recently was one painted by Oak Park artist Jonathan Franklin. The photo shows Franklin’s globe as Mayor Daley introduces the project last April. Franklin’s is one of over 100 fiberglass globes that artists turned into environmental statements. In addition to the Field Museum, you can find them along the lake, adjacent to Lake Shore Drive, on Navy Pier, and various other locations. Franklin’s, which is sponsored by Exelon (inject your own note of irony), ended up in front of their offices, next to the Chagall mosaic. Pretty good location. You can learn more at www.coolglobes.org.
Bogus bills
After Oak Park police reported four instances of counterfeit currency Downtown on May 14 and May 16, the U.S. Secret Service responded with a presentation for area retailers showing them how to spot phony bills.
However, such instances have not abated, and now a senior Oak Park police official recommends that area merchants do not accept $100 bills.
“I am advising merchants and anybody else not to accept hundred dollar bills under any circumstances,” Oak Park Deputy Chief Bob Scianna said Friday. Oak Park police, he said, are getting reports of fake $100s being passed or attempted to be passed on a near daily basis.
“Apparently this is rampant throughout the Chicago area,” Scianna said, noting that bills are also showing up in DuPage and Will counties. “Somebody has dumped a lot of fake hundreds on the street. It’s an epidemic.”
Scianna said his department has been in regular consultation with the Chicago office of the Secret Service regarding the problem.
“Right now, they haven’t determined where they’re coming from, and they haven’t made any significant seizure that would take [the fake bills] off the street.”
Scianna said people should be particularly wary of those seeking to make minor purchases with a $100 bill, such as the Oak Park teenager who was questioned and released last Thursday.
Oak Park police responded to a call from the Great Harvest Bread Company at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue around 11 a.m. Thursday after an Oak Park teen attempted to pay for a single can of soda pop with a $100 bill.
The clerk examined the currency and refused the purchase, handing the bill back. The 17-year-old then crossed Lake Street and attempted to do the same at Caribou Coffee. Refused once again, he walked outside, where he saw several police squads converging on the intersection.
The teen then tore the phony bill in pieces, threw it into the air and walked into Scoville Park with three other teens, police say. The four ran when police attempted to stop them, but the 17-year-old and another youth were apprehended in the Oak Park Public Library’s underground parking garage, and the other two were caught close by.
All four were held for questioning, however the Cook County State’s Attorney declined to approve criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence.
U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Yvonne Dichristoforo confirmed Tuesday that there was an on going investigation with the Oak Park police and declined further comment.
-Bill Dwyer
Make that the RF-OP Wall of Fame
Anyone wondering what happened to the Oak Park-River Forest Wall of Fame, which normally graces the area just west of the reception desk in Oak Park Village Hall, should rest easy. The exhibit is spending the month of June in its other home-the River Forest Village Hall, making it the River Forest-Oak Park Wall of Fame.
River Forest residents, after all, shouldn’t be slighted. Oak Park may be able to boast the creation of great architecture and literature, but where would be be without the inventors of the Twinkie and Kool Aid?
Holy mole!
Tom Rocco, P.E. instructor at Beye Elementary, says their second graders have been getting some quality culinary instruction. Recently, Chef Chuck Vales from Winberie’s came over to show the kids how to make bruschetta and share some information about Italian culture and cuisine. Then they took a field trip over to New Rebozo for a lesson in making guacamole with Chef Paco. He let students mash avacados and add tomatoes, onion, cilantro, salt and lime. Oh my god! (as Paco likes to say). It must have been delicious.
The instruction, Rocco says, was “part of our year-long nutritional tasting program where we are providing students with healthy alternatives, while also studying different countries from around the world.”
School has never been so tasty.
Lobbying the Lt. Governor
Percy Julian Middle School teacher Tim Walsh, along with students Elizabeth Beard, Sarina Donohue, Dylan Baig, and Lucy Gill met with Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn in the state capitol during the 16th annual Illinois Tech Day on Tuesday, May 8. That’s when teachers and students get to show off their computer skills for lawmakers in Springfield in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of classroom technology. This year’s program included over 100 schools representing every legislative district in the state.
Here come the Segways!
“Hot pursuit” will never be the same. Word on the street is the Oak Park police have taken delivery of several new Segway personal transport vehicles. Beat officers in the Downtown and Avenue shopping districts are scheduled to begin riding the devices on duty sometime next week. They’re currently honing their people-moving skills on the vertical vehicles.
Oak Park is playing catch-up on this one. A Forest Park cop was spotted zooming along Madison during that village’s Summerfest celebration last weekend, and he seemed to be handling it just fine. No word yet on where or if Oak Park plans to apply any logos, or if the rides will come equipped with Mars lights.
And frankly, we do admit to being just a bit curious as to whether lanky Avenue beat officer Ed Hadac will be able to ride his Segway under the Oak Park Avenue el viaduct without having to duck.